The Moyer Foundation to Host 2nd National Bereavement Camp Conference

THE MOYER FOUNDATION TO HOST SECOND NATIONAL BEREAVEMENT CAMP CONFERENCE

 

Former “Biggest Loser” Contestant Abby Rike Will Join Industry Professionals to Provide Expertise on

Bereavement Camp Structures and Best Practices

 

Seattle, Wash. – The Moyer Foundation today announced that they will host the second annual National Bereavement Camp Conference on October 6-7, 2011 at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle, Wash. The two day forum will bring together industry professionals who facilitate bereavement camps across the country. The Moyer Foundation established Camp Erin in 2002 to offer children who have experienced the loss of someone close to them grief education, emotional support and critical life skills. 

 

“Since 2000, we have worked very hard to build a network of resources and partnerships to help children in distress learn healthy ways to cope with the loss of someone close to them and understand they are not alone in their time of grief,” Karen Moyer, Chairman of The Moyer Foundation. “By hosting the National Bereavement Camp Conference for the second consecutive year, we are providing the professionals who serve those children with the opportunity to gather and share ways for improving their level of care.”

 

The conference will provide a unique forum for bereavement professionals to share information, research and best practices. Attendees will learn from nationally recognized experts in the field; enhance their skills; and network in an effort to share the knowledge to create, implement, and evaluate quality bereavement camps throughout North America. More than 20 expert speakers, authors, researchers and vendors will be in attendance at the conference.  Additionally, the event will feature two keynote speakers: Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Abby Rike.

 

Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky has spent the last two decades guiding people through crisis and dedicates her life to helping those who serve others coping with trauma. Her book, Trauma Stewardship, an Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others is a vital guide to engaging in healing work in a healthy and sustainable way. Abby Rike, former contestant on the popular NBC reality TV show, “The Biggest Loser,” has turned personal tragedy into a means for helping others as an author and motivational speaker. Her journey of love, loss and hope began after tragically losing her husband and two children in a fatal car accident. In May, she released her first book entitled, Working It Out.

 

Foundation President Jamie Moyer commented, “Everyone possesses time, talent or treasure that we can utilize to help those in need.  We designed this conference to create an environment for bereavement professionals to freely exchange ideas and learn from one another and other experts in the industry.”  

 

The 2011 National Bereavement Camp Conference is sponsored by New York Life, LIVESTRONG, and Bentley Prince Street.

 

Registration for the National Bereavement Camp Conference is now underway with a fee of $150. More information is available by visiting MoyerFoundation.org.

 

About The Moyer Foundation

The Moyer Foundation, a public, 501 (c) (3) organization with offices in Seattle, Wash. and Philadelphia, Pa., was founded in 2000 by Major League Baseball pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife, Karen. The Foundation’s mission is to empower children in distress, and with the community’s support, create and fund programs to give children the tools and skills to overcome life’s greatest challenges. In addition to supporting local grassroots organizations on each coast, The Moyer Foundation created and funds Camp Erin™, the largest, free bereavement camp in the country (more than 40 camps in over 25 states and one in Canada) for grieving children and teens and Camp Mariposa, for children living with addiction/substance abuse in their families. The Moyer Foundation raises funds through special events, corporate partnerships and individual donors.  For more information or to become involved with the organization please visit www.moyerfoundation.org.

 

Contacts:

Eve Hemsley

Maroon PR

443.864.4246

Eve@MaroonPR.com

 

Tim Richardson

Maroon PR

443-864-4346

Tim@MaroonPR.com

Grief Counseling in the UK

Grief is a different experience for everyone, and there are no right and wrong ways of dealing with it. Often the ‘cycle of loss’ is evident in someone who has experienced a loss – feelings of denial, loneliness, anger, grief, and finally, letting go. But of course, it’s not the same for everyone, and whilst some people may take weeks or months to move through the process, others may take years.

Being such a personal, unique ordeal, it’s hard to find a universal way to help those going through it. But no matter what other methods the sufferer finds comforting, there is one that is undoubtedly essential and important for everyone – talking. Botttling things up and burying feelings will only lead to more problems further down the line, and the grief will never be fully dealt with.

Often, people are reluctant to talk about their feelings. It can be particularly difficult when relating to bereavement, as it can be hard to find someone to turn to who is also not dealing with the same bereavement, and someone who can provide enough support.

Counselling, however, offers a non-judgemental, safe and relaxing environment to discuss problems and feelings out loud, with the help of a trained professional. Underlying issues can be exposed and dealt with, and grief and all its associated feelings can be released.

Counselling can also help with what happens after grief – coming to terms with how life has changed for those left behind, and how to honour the memory but not become hung up on it. Mourning can, in some cases, develop into depression, and a counsellor will be able to detect if this is happening, or prevent it.

Dealing with grief is one of the hardest experiences a person will have to go through. But there are people on hand to help, and though many people have reservations, counselling can be a hugely helping healing and cathartic process.

To find a counsellor in your area, (UK) as well as information about grief and other types of distress, go to www.counselling-directory.org.uk

Radio Interview airing all day at theauthorsshow.com

I had an interesting interview with Don McCauley of The Authors Show, which is getting a lot of press and alot of traffic to their site. The interview is about 15 minutes and you can listen to it here all day on April 8 at http://www.theauthorsshow.com/”>

Author’s Show Interview April 8

I had an interesting interview with Don McCauley of The Authors Show, which is getting a lot of press and alot of traffic to their site. The interview is about 15 minutes and you can listen to it here all day on April 8 at http://www.theauthorsshow.com

Can Spring be in the Air?

Where I live in the mountains, Spring likes to tickle and tease, then jumps back and away as we get more snow and winds, bringing the temperature from a March 45 degrees to a 14 degree morning. I’ve lived here 30 years, and I’ve learned you can’t be fooled by what “appears” to be Spring. I admit I’m anxious for the warmer weather. Even more time outdoors, no heavy boots, coats or gloves. I do enjoy some parts of the winter, I still hike, snowshoe or x country skiing, snowmobiling, but those windy, – degree weather days, those I don’t miss.

Every day for the last few weeks I’ve been taking the pup out for hikes over our old logging roads out back. Yesterday we went quite deep and up the mountain, and began coming down some ledges, when behind us I heard dogs howling and yipping from where we’d just come. So we hotfooted it out of there. Myself and a 28 lb. border collie/australian shepard 5 month pup might not be a match for 4 or 5 wild dogs. I’ve run into this from time to time, but thus far I’ve been lucky…so, extra precautions next time we’re off into the woods.

So, this weekend looks like it will be in the 50’s, and perhaps Spring is teasing us again, and Monday and Tuesday it may drop back down to the 20’s again, but I guess I’ll take the warmer temperatures this weekend. Family gatherings and then on to swing dancing on Saturday evening. Should be fun.

If 16 year olds were in charge of the world

 What would that be like?

 For myself, this is the 3rd time I’ve experienced life with a 16 year old boy, so I can’t speak for girls.

As a parent I wouldn’t have to worry anymore about the decisions they’re making, why they resist curfew or the notion that they’re speeding down some dark road, literally and figuratively.

Being in charge, they’d hopefully have a pretty good handle on how situations will turn out, before they join other 16 year olds and charge into a situation. “Stay out of my life and my things” will become pretty much a standard, accepted phrase.

 16 year olds in charge of the world — think of the stress, fear and tears it will save parents…………… ……………………… ……………………..

 

 Nahhh, I don’t buy it. I guess some of us will just have to keep on letting them think they’re in charge of their world, while we look out on our end, teach them the best we can, and then hope for the best.

Grief Workbook Coming Soon “Heal Your Pain, Releasing the Emotions of Grief & Loss

“HEAL YOUR PAIN, Releasing the emotions of Grief & Loss” – by Janet Greene & Elaine Williams – Paperback
We are very excited to announce the upcoming release of Heal Your Pain.

This Companion Handbook is the perfect gift for a grieving friend or relative, to guide them to release the overwhelming emotions as they surface (so they don’t have to carry them year after year) and as a resource to navigate the grief emotional roller coaster.

Heal Your Pain is also the perfect starting point for those who still carry the pain of a loss years or even decades ago. Until this emotional pain is released, healing and the capacity to move on is limited.

This gentle Companion Book will show you how to release the overwhelming pain that keeps reappearing at the most unexpected times, resolve and heal your emotional shocks, and prepare you to create a life beyond grief.

Availability Notification
Please email media@onwingspress.com with the topic Heal Your Pain and we will notify you.

Win a Copy of A Journey Well Taken Today

Visit Bobby Ozuna’s blog and post a comment about my book and/or radio interview on The Soul of Humanity Radio, and a winner will receive a signed copy of “A Journey Well Taken”.

Visit Bobby Ozuna’s blog and post a comment about my book and/or radio interview on The Soul of Humanity Radio, and a winner will receive a signed copy of “A Journey Well Taken”.
http://inotauthor.blogspot.com/2009/03/elaine-williams-author-interview-author.html

The Soul of Humanity Radio Interview March 4 at 8 p.m. ET

The Soul of Humanity Radio Interview March 4 at 8 p.m. ET with writer and promoter Bobby Ozuna at http://artistfirst.com/bobbyozuna.htm”>

We will be talking about self-publishing in relation to my book, A Journey Well Taken: Life After Loss, and also my new book coming out in April on healing grief through emotional releases. Heal Your Pain, Releasing the Emotions of Grief and Loss.

Book Contest Giveaway A Journey Well Taken: Life After Loss

Book Contest
Book Contest giveaway for March. Win a copy of A Journey Well Taken: Life AFter Loss by Elaine Williams. To enter, send an email to media (at) onwingspress.com with ENTER ME in the subject line.